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State Labor Laws Hiring & Firing Washington

Dickinson Wright

Are Employee Driver’s License Requirements in the Rearview Mirror? What Washington’s New Law Says

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Heads up, employers—a new law went into effect in Washington State this week (effective as of July 27, 2025) limiting when an employer can require job applicants and employees to have a valid driver’s license. A recent update...more

Foster Garvey PC

2025 Legislative Developments Affecting Washington Employers

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Washington employers face a wave of new workplace legislation, some of which recently became effective and some that will begin in 2026 and beyond. These new or modified laws address a broad range of topics, many of which...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Further Limits Criminal Background Checks in the Workplace: An Employer’s Guide and Compliance Action Plan

Fisher Phillips on

A new Washington law expands protections for job applicants and employees under the state’s Fair Chance Act, aligning the statewide law more closely with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance. Notably, employers will...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington State Workplace Law Roundup: Nearly 20 New Laws Taking Effect Within the Next Year – Starting Now

Fisher Phillips on

Washington lawmakers were busy this year, and a wave of new laws will have a major impact on the workplace. Employers must be aware of significant workplace laws taking effect within the next year, including 11 new laws that...more

Miller Nash LLP

Washington Employers: Does That Job Really Require a Valid Driver's License?

Miller Nash LLP on

Effective July 27, 2025, employers will have to carefully consider whether they should require that employees have a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment. In 2019, Washington State enacted the Equal Protection...more

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

Recently Passed Employment Laws Will Significantly Impact Washington Employers

Recently, Washington State legislators passed several new and amended employment bills, which Governor Ferguson signed, enhancing protections for employees and increasing potential liability for employers. Employers need to...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Washington Overhauls Employment Laws on Reductions in Force and Background Checks

Epstein Becker & Green on

The Washington State Legislature has been busy as usual this session. Two bills with significant implications for employers operating in Washington have recently been signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson: a state...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Washington Employment Law Updates

A series of employment-related bills have become law and will go into effect in the coming months and years. These new bills contain some significant changes that will likely affect most Washington employers. Understanding...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Washington State Employment Law: Key Legislative Changes Effective July–September 2025

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Washington State continues to lead in progressive employment legislation with a number of new laws set to take effect in the coming months. These changes span a wide range of employment issues — from wage transparency and...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: Top 10 Employment Law Changes in Washington State

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Employers operating in Washington State must take steps quickly to comply with a slew of new labor and employment laws passed by the Washington State Legislature during the recent session. These new laws significantly expand...more

Miller Nash LLP

New Hiring and Employment Records Laws Take Effect in Washington

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During the 2025 legislative session, Washington State enacted several new measures that will significantly impact employer obligations related to hiring practices and personnel recordkeeping. Two statewide bills—HB 1308 and...more

DLA Piper

New Requirements for Washington State Employers

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In recent weeks, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed numerous employment-related bills, amending employer obligations and employee rights related to pay transparency, paid leave, use of criminal records, personnel...more

Fenwick & West LLP

New Washington Mini-WARN Act for Mass Layoffs and Business Site Closures

Fenwick & West LLP on

Washington is the latest state to enact a Mini-Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) law. Effective July 27, 2025, the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act (SB 5525) imposes...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Washington Expands Employee Access to Personnel Files

Washington law provides employees with the right to inspect their personnel file annually upon request.  In April, the Washington legislature amended the personnel file access requirements.  The updated law is effective July...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

You’ve Been WARNed: Washington Enacts a mini-WARN Law

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The new law applies to employers with 50+ employees (excluding part-time workers) and mirrors many federal WARN Act provisions, with some notable distinctions....more

Littler

State and Local Updates Affect What Employers May (and May Not) Require from Job Applicants in Washington State

Littler on

It’s the season for legislative updates – and Washington State lawmakers are no exception. Job postings have recently been an area of focus in state and local laws. Two recent updates in Washington State impose new...more

Littler

Washington State Enacts New Legislation to Define Employee Access to Their Personnel Records and Termination Information

Littler on

As many Washington employers are acutely aware, there exists sparse statutory guidance on how employers must respond to personnel file requests by their employees – and no statutory definition of what constitutes a “personnel...more

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

WARN is Coming to Washington State: What Employers Need to Know

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 13 signed the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act into law. Effective July 27, this statute mirrors the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Washington Amends EPOA, Bringing More Balance to Employer Job Posting Obligations

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

On May 20, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Substitute Senate Bill 5408 (SSB 5408), enacting important amendments to the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). The EPOA has been a hot topic in Washington after...more

Tonkon Torp LLP

The Amended Fair Chance Act Is Changing Background Check Requirements for Washington Employers

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Washington employers will soon be subject to new, more burdensome rules under recent amendments to the Washington Fair Chance Act. Passed this legislative session, HB 1747 goes into effect on July 1, 2026 for employers with...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Lawmakers Cut Employers a Break for Job Posting Noncompliance: 7 Things You Should Do

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Washington employers will soon get some relief from the state’s strict job posting requirements after lawmakers unanimously passed a law to mitigate some of the more onerous parts of the key state statute. Starting July 27,...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Washington’s Fair Chance Act: New Amendments Transform Employer Background Check Policies

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In 2018, Washington enacted a Fair Chance Act, requiring covered employers to wait until after considering an applicant to be “otherwise qualified” for the position at issue to inquire about or consider criminal history when...more

Littler

Washington’s Amended Fair Chance Act Will Impose Additional Obligations on Covered Employers

Littler on

Washington State has an existing fair chance law (discussed here) but the statute, as amended by HB 1747, will impose additional obligations on employers that consider criminal records when vetting job applicants or...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Just Turned Many Non-Solicitation Agreements into Illegal Non-Competes: Tips on How You Can Still Protect Your Business

Fisher Phillips on

Washington state law just changed in a way that might have made your company’s non-solicitation agreements unenforceable and illegal. Recent amendments to the state non-compete statute took effect on June 6 and significantly...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Washington Employers to Face Increased Limitations on Non-Competes

On June 6, 2024, Washington’s non-compete statute will receive substantial amendments affecting employers with workers in the state. Employers should review their employment agreements and personnel onboarding practices to...more

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